Venus wins on comeback
Williams has had a miserable year with injuries
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Wednesday, 27, Sep 2006 09:51
Venus Williams saw off 18-year-old Ana Ivanovic 6-3 6-4 at the Fortis Championship in Luxembourg in her first match since Wimbledon.
The 2005 champion at SW19 booked her place in the second round by seeing off the sixth seed in 71 minutes.
Williams, who has played only 17 matches this year and has not played for three months, made a dreadful start after dropping her opening service game.
But the 26-year-old immediately broke back for 2-2 before breaking again in the eighth game to clinch the opening set.
Ivanovic fought back from an early break in the second set but Williams continued to crank up the pressure, breaking twice to lead 4-1 before serving out the set.
The American was forced to withdraw from the US Open and the hardcourt season due to a long-term wrist injury that has seen her plummet to 54th in the rankings.
Williams will face Polish qualifier Agnieszka Radwanksa, who beat Italian Mara Santangelo 5-7 7-6 6-3.
Elsewhere, third seed Patty Schnyder beat American Chanda Rubin 6-3 6-0 in the second round.
Schnyder will now play fourth seed Dinara Safina of Russia, cousin of former world number one Marat Safin, after defeating Daniela Hantuchova 7-5 6-3.